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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. W. LOOMIS. FURNACE FOR BURNING STRAW.

No. 248,046; Patented Got. 11,1881.

u. PETERS Photo-Lithographer, Wm;

(No Model.) I QSfieets-Shet 2.

' E. W. LOOMIS.

FURNACE FOR BURNING STRAW. No. 248,046, v Patented Oct. 11,1881.

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N. PEYERS. Pbolo-Lflhogmphur. Wasllinglun. RC,

UNiTED STATES PATENT OFF CE,

EDGAR W. LOOMIS, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE J. I. CASE THRESHING MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FURNACAE FOR BURNlNG -STRAW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,046, dated October 11, 1881.

Application filed Julie 1, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDGAR V. LOOMIS, a-

citizen of the United States, residing at Racine, in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnaces for Burning Straw; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an attachment to steam-boilers of the locomotive-boiler type, intended for use in burning straw and similar material for the generation of steam, consisting, in the main, of an auxiliary or supplementary fire-box placed against the ordinary fire-box and under the waist of the boiler, so that the flash-flame and direct heat from the straw fuel,

are directed against the waist of the boiler, while the products of" combustion are caused to travel through the ordinary fire-box on their way to the lines of the boiler.

Myimprovement upon such attach nient consists in providing the supplementary fire-box with pivoted flaps, which can be worked from the outside of the fire-box, to shake up the body of straw fuel above the grate.

It further consists in hanging a pan under the ash-pit of the supplementary fire-box, the open end of which pan, when lowered,may ad mit air to continue the combustion ofthe straw fuel when the ash-pit door is closed, the bottom of the ash-pit being perforated, to permit the air from the pan to reach the grate and fuel thereon.

It further consists in suspending the grate by links, so that it may be shaken from time to. time.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, 1 have illustrated in the annexed drawings, and will proceed to describe, the best form thereof at present known to me.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a portable locomotive-boiler with the straw-burning fire-box attachment embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof, taken in the plane indicated by the broken line a: w of Fig. 1. r

The supplemental fire-boxA'is placed under the waist ofthe boiler and against the ordinary fire-box thereof, substantially in the way illustrated and known to persons skilled in this branch of the useful arts. This general combination of a supplementary straw-burning firebox is not of my invention, and is shown simply for the purpose of illustrating my improvements.

At each side of the supplementary fire-box is pivoted or hinged a flap, (marked B and B, respectively,) preferably curved about as shown, and extending from the hinge down to near the upper surface of the grate.

To the lower end of the flap B is pivoted a curved rod, C,which passes through a hole in the flap B, and through another hole in the side of the fire-box, terminating in a handle, by which it may be conveniently operated. N or mally the flaps and rod are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2; but on pulling the rod outwardly both flaps are simultaneously swung toward each other. The straw fuel will 7 rest on the grate-bars between the flaps B and B, so that it may be shaken up by the operation of the flaps.

It is obvious that other means than the curved rod C maybe used for operatingtheflaps.

The drawings illustrate the flaps as solid plates; but they may be perforated, so as to permit air entering behind them to pass through their perforations into the straw fuel.

The ash-pit D is provided with a door, D, as usual. A pan, E, is suspended from the ashpit by links E, which admit of the said pan being either elevated, so that its bottom will hug the bottom of the ash-pit, or lowered, so that a space will then exist between the bot- 0 tom of the ash-pit and the bottom of the pan. The end of the pan adjacent to the door of the ash-pit is open, as at 9, so that air can freely pass into it when lowered. The bottom of the ash-pit is perforated, permitting air entering 5 the pan to pass up to the grate and fuel thereon. Thus thesupplementary fire-box can be supplied with air forcombustion either through the ash-pit door or through open end of the lowered pan, or through both the ash-pit door and the open end of the lowered pan, as circumstances may require or make expedient.

The grate F is suspended by links F,and is provided with a lever, F ,fulernmed in the wall of the supplemental firebox, and terminating in a handle, by which it may be operated to shake the grate. In this instance the pintles of the hinged flaps B and Bserve also for suspending the links F of the grate.

Sufficient space must be left between the grate and the walls of the supplemental fire-box to provide for the play of the grate in shakingit.

Any part of my invention maybe used without the other parts. For instance, the flaps maybe used in a fire-box havinga fixed grate. The pan may be open at both ends,so that air may enter at both ends when it is lowered.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the supplementary fire-box and the vertically-suspended hinged flaps therein for shaking the straw fuel.

2. The combination, substantially as before setforth, of the supplementary fire-box, the Von tically-suspended hinged flaps thereinforshaking the straw fuel, and the curved rod for simultaneously operating said flaps.

3. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the supplemental fire-box, the ashpit constructed with a perforated bottom, and an imperl'orate suspended pan open at one or both ends, for the admission of air and to prevent the falling cinder from escaping.

4. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the supplemental tire-box and the suspended grate thereof, together with the links for suspending and the hand-lever for shaking said grate.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR W. LOOM IS.

Witnesses BYRON B. BLAKE, J OHN TAPLEY. 

